Accelerator governor



Jan. 4, 1938.

\ ACCELERATOR GOVERNOR Filed June 15, 1936 2' Sheets-Sheet 1- E! M. HINTON 1' 2,104,649,

Jan.4,1938. E. M. HINTON ACCELERATOR GOVERNOR Filed June 13, 1936 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 *4 W W /Z/ A 9 W5 2 W N5 l E. 4 w w fi ww 3f 9 9 y W ,4; W 2% W H fi W y") in W 7 W Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNI-TE n2 SZIFA TESZ orator;

AQGELEB'AT B GOYERN R; Edward Martin Hinton,- Drexel Hill, Pa. lipl aati nalluna t 19 se ialiNoatiil'lw ligclaims (acm -9s) a This inventionrelates to internal; combustion engines, and more particularly. to. devices]. for. use in connectiontherewith for contro1lingtthea rateiof fuel :feed (thereto, inorder to permit isuch-i rate to he increased with; the maximum speed at which the engine istcapablet ofgeflicientlyzuth v 1izing the fuel,: while; atthe. same. time. preventing;

the rate of feed .from:beingi-inoreasedso quickly.

astQ cause chokingmf thezengine, due toan oversupply of fuel,v or an ineflicient pr-wasteful.-

use of fuel; 7 l V As is well-known, internal combustion lengines and particularly those adapted for drivingmotor vehicles, aircraft; andgthelike, wherein the: fuel 5- valves; are manually: controlled; are; sensitive to an oversupply of fuel caused; by the operator. opening the throttleivalvel too; rapidly at alower speeds.- It frequentlyihappens; especially-when the vehicle is-,,in thehhandsn ofralmore. or. less: inexperienced operator, that a tooerapidy opens-i ing of the throttle willg cause the; engine to choke and stop, or to" buck? by: reasonorsthe, oversupply of fuel. 'Ihis occurrence is,n ot -on1y.an-, noying but. wasteful, and may;;occasionally,beu 5 exceedingly dangerous as when thevehicleisson,

or approachinga gradecrossingorswhen forlanyt reason arapid; but sure accelerationwof :speed iiS t.

required.

B ans of t e-present inYe t nLtheJhrottIe valve may be socontrolled; that it-Vwil1;lbe; im-

ibl r; the operator. o..-. p.en.- the throttle. more rapidly; than the engine; is able to; utilize, I,

theincreasing fuel supply: 0 n -thev .oth:r:hand the t e mayb iopenediatthe optimum-rate.

for accelerating the vehicle, 1. e., a t ;such; a; rat e,,;;

as to e ur the maximumc elerationofI-the vehicle without ri k ;of icholging the; engine; and; without wasteof fuel, othenattendant advane,

e i medi telic be: pparent; such; as. avoidance of the introduction of [unburned-fuel 7 into the lubricating system; lessening; of 5 the tendency to the. accumulation of carbon deposits in the cylinders, lessening I of wear-and-'tear' on the moving parts due to jerky or-uneven operation-, and-so-forth-.; Other-and further objects,

features and *advantages willb'e*apparentjfrom;

the description which; follows, takendn conneco w h the aqcomnah ina rawi a in wh c i hemafieiflustraticn. oig neimo e i. in which ,thepr seht ve tio iimay, be. ap l a to aim tor veh cle; 7

Fig. 2 is, a verticali'section; on 1ine 2--.2. of Fig 3 of a IQL QY QQ ponstructedjmlacqqr ane 7 withathe present inventioh .Fig. 3, ismhorizontatsection on 1ine;= 3a.-..3:ot@: Fig. 2; t

Fi hi a horizontal sectioniomzlinedsl-al of Fi .5.-is;a ve ti als cti n-inratplanezpe nendica ular tothat1of=iE g 2.; showin -the, deviceaafisitgppear durm celerat-ionir Fi 615, view. im larztcgFi afis but showin s the device:.durin z deceleratianrand; v

s-1' 1 andilo re;de t; edwiews of cergi 9h ainaof e p rtszof;the.1 ev1ce;0f.- thefiore cinxa fi ur R e i ;fi thei umerah lfldes natesz he o t e: erat rs a; co nar m ntmte motor veh c e: i tally' v'miount di nr-tthe floonr a nn ct vmea u h1 mKS.' f- 1E Q=i.'3 and-3; l nlsr, h t i hethrsott c lye 53.1. li e v t ott v n e1 ndre ah r no m-ally ias .1 1ia s tt s sit n vvmeansr i a; t. prim-er I 6- A. o t ls eri t eor i-ngeto the rpme t t vention :is indipatedat; 11,-: being-secured toe the;- underside of the. 1 10011; board 5| 0 why anyrsuitablei. meansh piston rod: lassofisthe devicerl'ltm rm: s ur di oezundersideeor the pedal; H ibilt any suitabl m an making: proviosionxfor. v r m e l ht y rcuateimoti moi:thedatte zrt re t linea moti nziof th ist ntrod:v

h a ontro dQY QQ- n's fisplieierredafoli t.1 mpris s azcy nderx- Szand ristonjz thedatterv ng onn cted; 'mQ&nS:,0fi hee-DiStOn mail. .2, o part ke f an control themovements rl f their ce erato pedal-,1! The cylinder?! 9 asadaptedt to contain any suitable fluid, suchaasgsailzi-oreaii liquid -10fanydesirablerviscosity andiseclosed at 5,}

the top by+a cylinden mead-12 l -,'1 providedawitlr iaa g1and 22 in; which thespistomzrod l8. 21s.-.-s1idahly mounted; The piston Zl'lzcomprisesan*arinularv wall; member :23; illustrated: int Fig. '7;- a flxed'i valvering 26, illustrated :inaFiaxr and iau10tme 0 valve ring 25,; seem :in- -Fig;: 8i: The;-.wa1-l;:memben 23 fitsacls sely the inner surfaceeof stheicylinder I 9, and is keyedthereto, as at 26 (Fig .;3);:-.to;-pne-1i vent relative; rotation thenebetweena The mated: va v ;r n 4 fits closely,-withinatheawaih:niemt-t; az ber 23,; and:-re ts z pon.;. r;annular shouldemflv med 1 thelatter; Rotation-lot the,;1fixed: v ve ei rev n edb heli ugsrztawhic manez ceived in recesaesii ormediat -t houlderlzm.

The cd.. a1Y ins l 4: omphses an lent-lemma flan e 30, an q an efih nnectedh byw h er 11 2.; n a rhubei'azconneoted ito F. E.=:;3l;;Q'I1 1.eahub; 33:2; iss o U .esl*withmccnstricte .znmztionitsaadantea g toslidablyz ensazerthemistqn 'irodzi 8 and amenemm;

larged portion 36 adapted to receive an enlarged head 31 formed on the end of the piston rod. As may be seen in Fig. 3, the webs 32 are spaced apart to form a series of apertures 38 in the fixed valve ring 24.

The rotary valve ring 25 is provided with spaced closure members 33, and is adapted to be expanded into an annular groove 40 in the wall member 23 by means of an expansion screw 4|. The relation of the closures 33 to the apertures 38 of the fixed valve ring is such that each closure member is adapted to cover completely one of the apertures 38. Secured to one of the closure members 39 is a cam follower 42 adapted to cooperate with a cam groove 43 formed in the cylinder wall. The cam groove 43 is preferably formed in a removable portion of the cylinder wall designated by the numeral 44, in order that the characteristics of the device may be varied simply by removing the cylinder wall insert 44 and replacing it with another having a cam groove of any desired shape.

It is intended that the cam groove 43 shall be formed in accordance with the previously determined characteristics of the particular-engine, so as to provide for maximum acceleration at all speeds. In the ordinary case the groove 43 will be in the nature'of a helix, but curving toward the horizontal in its lower portions. For convenient reference, the varying rate, determined by the characteristics of the particular engine, at which the throttle should be opened inorder to provide for maximum acceleration at all engine speeds will be hereinafter referred to as the curve of acceleration of the engine.

The wall member 23 is provided with an elongated recess 45 within'which the cam follower 42 'is adapted to oscillate in accordance with the curvature of the cam groove 43. The total curvature of the latter will ordinarily be approximately equal to the width of the apertures 38, and the parts are assembled in such relation that when the piston is in its uppermost position the rotary cam ring 25 will occupy a position wherein each of the closure members 39 will almost completely cover one of the apertures 38, while, on theother hand, when the'piston is in its lowermost position the valve ring 25 will have been rotated to a position wherein the apertures 38 are substantially or entirely unobstructed. The extent of obstruction of the apertures 38 at any and all vertical positions of the piston is determined by the conformation of the cam groove 43. I

The central opening of the fixed valve ring 24 is; adapted to beoclose'd, upon the down stroke ofthe piston; by a butterfly valve comprising vanes'46 :(Fig. 10) pivotally mounted in bearings 41 formed between the .outer flange 30 of the fixed ring 24 and'the shoulder 21 of the wall member 23. Each of the vanes 46 is provided with a dog 48for engagement by the head 31 of the piston rod I8 at the beginning" of the down stroke of the latter. The piston rod I8 is also provided with'abollar 49 for engagement with the hub "33 upon the down stroke of the piston rod. Thus the piston rod l8 has a short initial'movement downward'before the collar 49' engages the hub 33, after which further movement of the piston rod will result in a corresponding movement of the piston 23.

When the piston rod starts upward, the piston will remain stationary until'thehead 31 of the piston rod has been withdrawn from between the dogs 48, releasing the vanes 46, at which time the head 31 engages the hub 33 to move the piston upwardly.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description. The cylinder being filled with any suitable fluid, and the piston being in its uppermost position, pressure of the operator's foot upon the pedal II will cause the piston rod [8 to move downwardly. The head 31 will engage the dogs 48 of the vanes 46 and succeeding downward motion of the rod 18 will result in swinging the vanes 46finto horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 5, thus closing the central opening of the fixed valve ring 24. The collar 49 will then engage the hub 33 and cause the piston to move downwardly. The downward movement of the piston is retarded by the pressure of the fiuid beneath, which may only escape through the apertures 38. Since the latter are almost entirely closed at the beginning of the down stroke, the first part of the down stroke will necessarily be slow. As the piston moves downward the obstruction of the apertures 38 is gradually lessened by the rotation of the ring 25 in accordance with the movements of the cam follower 42 in the cam groove 43. Accordingly, the downward movement of the piston may be accomplished with increasing speed, the latter part of the movement being relatively unobstructed. -When the pressure upon the foot pedal H is removed or lightened, the piston rod l8 will move upwardly, releasing the vanes 46, which will drop into substantially vertical position thus opening the central aperture of'the fixed valve ring 38. Thus the upward movement i of the piston is substantially unimpeded and will be accomplished rapidly.

By virtue of the control thus imposed upon the movements of the accelerator pedal II, it will be impossible for the throttle to be moved abruptly from closed to wide open position. When the throttle is almost or entirely closed it may be opened slowly at first but with increasing speed, thus'avoiding choking of the engine and waste of fuel. After the throttle has been opened to a considerable extent and the vehicle accelerated accordingly, the throttle may be further opened with considerable speed, as the engine is capable of accelerating rapidly at higher speeds.

Although the upward movement of the piston is substantially unobstructed, this movement will require a certain short length of time, which is advantageous in that it prevents such an abrupt deceleration of the engine as to cause a jar when the engine ceases to drive the vehicle and commences to brake.

The terms and expressions employed in the foregoing specification are terms of description and not of limitation, and it is recognized that many variations of the described construction may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a cylinder having a cam groove formed in the wall thereof, a piston comprising a non-rotatable member provided with apertures therethrough and a rotary member having portions adapted to cover said apertures and having a cam follower adapted to engage in said cam groove, and a piston rod, means associated with said piston and operable by the initial movement of said piston rod'to retard the advance of said piston.

2. In a device of the character described, a

cylinder, a piston having a central aperture and circumferential apertures, a piston rod adapted for limited longitudinal movement relative to said piston, and means controlled by the said.

movements of said piston rod for opening and closing said central aperture and circumferential apertures.

3. In a device of the character described, a cylinder having a removable wall sector, said removable wall sector having a cam groove formed therein, and a piston adapted for reciprocal movement within said cylinder, said piston comprising a non-rotatable member provided with apertures, a member rotatable for closing and opening certain of said apertures, said rotatable member having a cam follower secured thereto for engagement with said cam groove, and separate means associated with said piston for opening and closing another of said apertures.

4. In a device of the character described, a cylinder, a piston adapted for reciprocal movement with said cylinder, a rotary valve associated with said piston, a butterfly valve associated with said piston, means for closing said butterfly valve during the instroke of said piston, and means for opening said rotary valve at a variable rate during the instroke of said piston.

5. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston having apertures therethrough, closures for said apertures, means associated with said piston for opening certain of said apertures at a varying rate in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration, upon inward movement of said piston, separate means for closing another of said apertures preceding initial inward movement of said piston and means connecting said piston and said throttle valve.

6. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston having apertures therethrough, closures for said apertures, means associated with said piston for opening certain of said apertures at an increasing rate in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration, upon inward movement of said piston, separate means for closing another of said apertures preceding initial inward movement of said piston, and means connecting said piston and said throttle valve.

7. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston having apertures therethrough, closures for said apertures, means associated with said piston for opening certain of said apertures in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration, upon inward movement of said piston, separate means for closing another of said apertures preceding initial inward movement of said piston, means for causing rapid outward movement of said piston, and means connecting said piston and said throttle valve.

8. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston having apertures therethrough, closures for said apertures, means associated with said piston for opening certain of said apertures in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration, upon inward movement of said piston, separate means for closing another of said apertures preceding initial inward movement of said piston and opening said aperture upon initial outward movement of said piston, means urging said piston toward its outward position,

and means connecting said piston and said throttle valve.

9. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted therein, means connecting said piston and said throttle valve, means for applying force to said piston for causing it to advance into said cylinder, and means for controlling the rate of movement of said piston in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration.

10. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted therein, means connecting said piston and said throttle valve, means for applying force to said piston for causing it to advance into said cylinder, means for controlling the rate of movement of said piston in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration, and means for rapidly retracting said piston.

11. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted therein, means connecting said piston and said throttle valve, means for applying force to said piston for causing it to advance into said cylinder,and means for controlling the rate of movement of said piston in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration, said controlling means including a rotary valve associated with said piston and controlled in accordance with the position of said piston within said cylinder.

12. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having a cam groove formed in the wall thereof, said cam groove being formed in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration, a piston comprising a non-rotatable member provided with apertures therethrough and a rotary member having portions adapted to cover said apertures and having a cam follower adapted to engage in said cam groove, and means connecting said piston and said throttle valve.

13. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having a cam groove formed in the wall thereof, said cam groove being formed in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration, a piston comprising a non-rotatable member provided with apertures therethrough and a rotary member having portions adapted to. cover said apertures and having a cam follower adapted to engage in said cam groove, means for applying force to said piston for movement into said cylinder, means for rapidly retracting said piston,

and means connecting said piston and said throttle valve.

14. In a device for controlling the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having a cam groove formed in the wall thereof, said cam groove being formed in accordance with a predetermined curve of acceleration, a piston comprising a non-rotatable member provided with apertures therethrough and a rotary member having portions adapted to cover said aper- "tures and having a cam follower adapted to engage in said cam groove, a piston rod, means associated with said piston and operable by the initial movement of said piston rod to retard the advance of said piston, and means connecting said piston and said throttle valve.

EDWARD MARTIN HINTON. 

